Adoption at the MSPCA

Why Do Birds Come to the MSPCA?

Pet
birds, with the exception of fowl like chickens and geese, are not usually
categorized as domestic animals.There
are still a large number of dealers who illegally capture birds from the wild
and sell them to pet stores and other retailers.And while many animal care and adoption
centers screen their potential adopters to make sure that it’s the best match
possible, pet stores don’t typically function this way.Oftentimes, exotic animals including reptiles
and parrots are purchased on a whim and later surrendered to shelters because
the owners were unprepared to make the financial and time commitment to their
care.

It
is not uncommon to hear about parrot owners making arrangements in their wills
for their bird's care for after the owner has passed away.Anyone making a decision to bring a bird into
their lives needs to consider the longevity of the species they are
choosing.On the short end, many small
pet birds (parakeets, lovebirds, cockatiels) can live for 10 years or
more.Larger birds (African grays,
Macaws) can live as many as 80 years.Unfortunately, many birds living in captivity experience a shortened
life span due to poor husbandry and nutrition.

Because
of their long life spans, birds are often surrendered because their owners have
lost interest in continuing to provide for their care – years of cleaning their
cage and paying for food have become cumbersome.Still others outlive their owners and are
surrendered by relatives or family friends.This is especially sad when it happens to large parrots, as they tend to
bond closely to one person.

Like
other prey animals, many birds must be handled gently and frequently to avoid
becoming fearful of human hands.Some of
the birds that come to the MSPCA have received relatively little interaction because
their owners were not well educated about their socialization needs.Those unaccustomed to handling or who’ve been
handled poorly or abusively may resort to aggressive behaviors when humans
approach.Because of this, we require
that any future bird adopter have a clear understanding of their chosen bird’s
exact needs and the commitment involved in their care.